Stoke City 2013-14 Preview

To finish top 10: 4/1 (Skybet)
Last season: 13th

Reasons for hope:

Defensively the Potters have the credential to be a Europa League contenders based on the fact that only six teams conceded fewer goals last term (45). Indeed, there were 27 league games in which Tony Pulis’s boys conceded one goal or less; only Manchester City did better than that. Interestingly, they were just as hard to break down away from home as at the Britannia Stadium.

Potential bet: Top Midlands club - Stoke: 3/1 (Bet365)

Reasons to worry:

The flip side is that only basement boys QPR scored fewer in 2012-13 (34) with the next worse performers, Sunderland and Norwich, both considerably better with 41 goals apiece. With Pulis ushered out after keeping the Potters in the top flight for so long, it remains to be seen whether Mark Hughes will really makes things prettier and more efficient having been sacked by QPR last November.

Potential bet: Stoke to be relegated: 10/3 (Betfred)

Verdict:

It could be a case of be careful what you wish for. Dismissing a manager as successful as Pulis because you didn’t enjoy his brand of football may be seen as a calamitous error of judgement this time next year.